Ajinkya Rahane
Ajinkya Rahane. Credit: Getty

After a fine time, Ajinkya Rahane showed his mettle for the Indian team. He played like a champ in both the games, especially when the conditions were helping West Indies. The flamboyant batsman knocked a crucial fifty-plus score in the first innings and followed it up with a brilliant century.

Steadying the ship on day three with Virat Kohli, and then forging a hundred run-stand with Hanuma Vihari, Rahane played solid innings of 102 (off 242 balls) to help India set a target of 419 for the hosts on day four. It also ended his century drought, which was for a couple of years.

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Rahane’s 10th Test century guided India to 343/7 in the second innings. Forming a 102-run fourth-wicket partnership with India captain Virat Kohli, and then a 135-run fifth-wicket partnership with Hanuma Vihari, Rahane proved his worth by flashing his blade quite composedly.

Ajinkya Rahane
(Photo by Randy Brooks / AFP)

I can’t control it – Ajinkya Rahane

Speaking of the same, the Indian vice-captain, Ajinkya Rahane said he made a conscious effort to ignore criticism directed at him for not reaching three figures in the last two years. Further, he revealed that the knocks he played in the match have satisfied him to the core, as it came when it matters the most.

“I try not to get affected by criticism as it is unwanted and I can’t control it. You are always happy when you make a hundred,” Rahane told fellow Mumbaikar Rohit Sharma in a chat aired on ‘bcci.tv’. It was satisfying as I had to grind a lot. Needed to put the team in a good position before getting to the hundred,” he added.

County stint helped me –

Further, the flamboyant batsman quoted that he was benefitted much from the county stint with Hampshire, where he smashed a brilliant century. Further, Ajinkya Rahane feels that the partnership between him and KL Rahul in the first innings was a crucial aspect.

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Ajinkya Rahane
Ajinkya Rahane. BCCI Twitter

“I thought the first innings was very crucial for us. The partnership between me and Rahul was very crucial. Before this, I played county games for Hampshire and that helped me,” said Rahane, who won the man-of-the-match award for his effort. “Feels really special,” he added.

Well, the vice-captain of India struck form when it matters the most. He is going to be crucial for India in the middle-order, especially, when the likes of Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli fails to get the runs in unison. All in all, it was a special game for Ajinkya Rahane, who halted all the criticism aimed at him.

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